Method and apparatus for providing content

ABSTRACT

A method of providing content in a terminal includes obtaining a first message that is input through a user interface of the terminal that is provided by a messaging application that executes a messaging service in the terminal; generating content based on the first message, and a second message stored in the terminal; and providing the generated content via the terminal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 16/811,412, filedMar. 6, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. Application No.14/660,444, filed on Mar. 17, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,587,745), whichclaims the priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0031823,filed on Mar. 18, 2014 and Korean Patent Application No.10-2014-0146429, filed on Oct. 27, 2014, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with one or more exemplaryembodiments relate to providing content, and more particularly, toproviding content in a terminal by using a messaging application.

2. Description of the Related Art

With developments in communication technologies, various types ofterminals that are capable of data communication have become widelydistributed. For example, smart phones, personal digital assistants(PDAs), tablet personal computers (PCs), smart televisions (TVs),cellular phones, laptops, and PCs have come into widespread use. Suchterminals may provide various data transmission services and otheradditional services.

Many of these terminals may provide messaging services. For example,services, such as instant messaging, short message service (SMS),multimedia messaging service (MMS), long message service (LMS), andemails, may be provided.

Also, personal information, such as calendars, schedules, contactinformation, and memos, may be managed by using the terminals. Forexample, users may manage their personal information by using a personalinformation management system (PIMS) provided through the terminals.

Users benefit by using terminals capable of providing these variousfunctions such as messaging services and PIMS.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments provide a method of providing contentefficiently in a terminal by using a messaging application, the contentbeing provided to manage personal information of a user and toefficiently process a user’s businesses.

One or more exemplary embodiments also provide a computer-readablerecording medium having stored thereon a computer program for executinga method of providing content.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided amethod of providing content in a terminal, the method includingobtaining a first message that is input through a user interface of theterminal, wherein the user interface is provided by a messagingapplication that executes a messaging service in the terminal;generating content based on the first message, and a second messagestored in the terminal; and providing the generated content via theterminal.

The generating the content may include: obtaining the second messagestored in the terminal; obtaining information from the first message andthe second message; and generating the content based on the informationobtained from the first message and the second message.

The obtaining the second message stored in the terminal may includeobtaining the second message from a second terminal that is differentthan the terminal, via the messaging application.

The generating the content based on the information obtained from thefirst message and the second message may include generating the contentbased on at least one of the information obtained from the first messageand the second message, and user information of the terminal.

The user information may include at least one of schedule information ofa user of the terminal, mail information, and information stored in acloud.

The content may include at least one of additional information relatedto schedule information of a user of the terminal, additionalinformation related to location information of the first message and thesecond message, additional information related to advertisementinformation of the first message and the second message, additionalinformation related to reservation information pre-stored by the user ofthe terminal, file information related to information from the firstmessage and the second message, and additional information related toinformation of a third party invitation through the messaging service.

The first message and the second message may correspond to at least oneof text data, sound data, and image data, and the obtaining theinformation from the first message and the second message comprisesobtaining the information from the first message and the second message,according to a criterion corresponding to a type of data of the firstmessage and the second message.

The criterion may include extracting a keyword if the type of data istext data, extracting a sound element if the type of data is sound data,and performing image recognition if the type of data is image data.

The providing the generated content may include displaying the contenton a layer different than the layer of the user interface provided bythe messaging application.

The providing the generated content may include outputting the contentas a sound when the first message is obtained as sound data.

The providing the generated content may include at least one oftransmitting a file related to the content from the terminal to a secondterminal that is different than the terminal, and receiving, via theterminal, the file related to the content from the second terminal.

The method may further include receiving a third message from a secondterminal that is different than the terminal, via the messagingapplication, based on the information obtained from the first messageand the second message.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a terminal for providing content, the terminal including acontroller configured to obtain a first message that is input through auser interface provided by a messaging application that executes amessaging service in the terminal, obtain a second message stored in theterminal, and generate content based on the first message and the secondmessage; and an outputter configured to provide the generated contentvia the terminal.

The controller may be further configured to obtain, via the messagingapplication, the second message provided by a second terminal that isdifferent than the terminal.

The controller may be further configured to obtain information from thefirst message and the second message, and generate the content based onthe information from the first message and the second message.

The controller may be further configured to generate the content basedon at least one of the information from the first message and the secondmessage, and user information of the terminal.

The first message and the second message may correspond to at least oneof text data, sound data, and image data, and the controller isconfigured to obtain the information from the first message and thesecond message, according to a criterion corresponding to a type of dataof the first message and the second message.

The criterion may include extracting a keyword if the type of data istext data, extracting a sound element if the type of data is sound data,and performing image recognition if the type of data is image data.

The outputter may display the content on a layer different than thelayer of the user interface provided by the messaging application.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium havingstored thereon a program for executing a method of providing contentthrough a terminal, the method comprising: obtaining a first messagethat is input through a user interface of the terminal, wherein the userinterface is provided by a messaging application that executes amessaging service in the terminal; generating content based on the firstmessage and a second message stored in the terminal; and providing thegenerated content via the terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is conceptual view illustrating an example in which usersexchange messages by using a messaging service, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing content,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a user interface through which messagesare displayed, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a method of comparing a message and userinformation, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a user interface through which content isprovided, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing content,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views illustrating a user interface through whichcontent is provided, according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of inputting a message byusing provided content, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 10 through 12 are views illustrating a user interface throughwhich a message is input by using provided content, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method of updating userinformation by using provided content, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIGS. 14 through 17 are views illustrating a method of updating userinformation by using provided content, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing content,according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing content,according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a view illustrating a user interface through which content isprovided, according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing content,according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 22 through 29 are views illustrating a user interface throughwhich content is provided, according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing content,according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 31 through 38 are views illustrating a user interface throughwhich content is provided, according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 39 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing content,according to another exemplary embodiment; and

FIGS. 40 and 41 are block diagrams illustrating a configuration of aterminal, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to one or more exemplaryembodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout, and a repeated explanation thereof might not begiven. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressionssuch as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify theentire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of thelist.

Many of the terms used herein are general terms that are widely used inthe technical art to which the present disclosure pertains. However,some of the terms used herein may be created reflecting intentions oftechnicians in this art, precedents, or new technologies.

Also, some of the terms used herein may be chosen for the presentdisclosure. In this case, these terms are defined in detail below.Accordingly, these specific terms used herein may be understood based onthe expressed meanings thereof and within the context of the presentdisclosure.

Throughout the specification, unless specifically stated otherwise, itwill be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected” to another element, it may be “directly connected” to theother element or it may be “electrically connected” to the other elementwith intervening elements therebetween. It will be further understoodthat when a part “includes” or “comprises” an element, unless otherwisedefined, the part may further include other elements.

Throughout the specification, “a messaging service” may refer to aservice in which messages are transmitted or received by using datacommunication. For example, messaging service may include an instantmessaging service, a short message service (SMS), a multimedia messagingservice (MMS), a long message service (LMS), and an electronic mail(email) service.

Throughout the specification, “a message” may refer to content that auser transmits to another user in a terminal by using the messagingservice. Also, content that the other user transmits to the user byusing the messaging service is also referred to as the message. Inaddition, the message may be obtained from content that is stored in theterminal. For example, content based on a user’s schedule that is storedin the terminal may be included in the message. In detail, when a user’sschedule includes “a company get-together at 6PM this Friday,” “acompany get-together at 6PM this Friday” may be included in the message.

Throughout the specification, “content” may refer to various informationprovided by the internet or computer communication, or to the content ofthe information. The “content” may refer to characters, signals, voices,sounds, images, and videos that are processed in a digital way to beused in wired or wireless telecommunication networks, or to the contentof the characters, signals, voices, sounds, images, and videos that areprocessed in a digital way to be used in wired or wirelesstelecommunication networks.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of an example in which users exchangemessages by using a messaging service, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a user may exchange messages withanother user through the messaging service. In detail, in a terminal1000, the user 110 transmits or receives a message with another user 120by executing a messaging application that is used for the messagingservice. The terminal 1000 that the user 110 uses and a terminal thatthe other user 120 uses are connected by a network. The messagingapplication is one of a plurality of applications installed in aterminal, and the messaging application may be distributed inapplication stores or application markets.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may obtain afirst message 130 that is input by the user 110. The first message 130is a message that is input in an input window of a user interface thatis provided by the messaging application used for the messaging serviceof the terminal.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may obtain asecond message 140. The second message may be a message or messages thatare stored in the terminal 1000.

Here, first message 130 that is input in the input window of the userinterface and second messages 140 that are stored in the terminal 1000may correspond to at least one of text data, sound data, and image data.However, the first message 130 and the second messages 140 are notlimited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the second message 140 may includeinformation of the user 110 that is input by the user 110. Also, thesecond message 140 may be a message that is provided by an externalserver (for example, a cloud).

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may generatecontent by analyzing the first message 130 and the second message 140.The terminal 1000 may obtain information by extracting key elements fromthe first message 130 and the second message 140 and may generatecontent by using at least one of information of user 110, informationstored in the cloud, information included in the first message 130, andinformation included in the second messages 140.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the content may include at leastone selected from schedule information (for example, stored schedules,schedule changes, schedule recommendations, etc.) of the user 110 of theterminal 1000, location information (for example, appointment placerecommendations, a list of famous restaurants, travel destinations,etc.) related to information included in the first message 130 and thesecond messages 140, advertisement information (for example, departmentstore advertisements, product advertisements, hotel advertisements,etc.) related to information included in the first message 130 and thesecond messages 140, reservation information (for example, pre-storingpredicted sentences, etc.) pre-stored by the user 110, file information(transferring music, photos, videos, etc. included in a conversation)related to information included in the first message 130 and the secondmessages 140, and third party invitation information (inviting a singleuser or a plurality of users to a conversation) through the messagingservice.

According to an exemplary embodiment, types of content may include avideo, a still image (for example, a photo, a picture, etc.), a text(for example, a journal article, a letter, a webpage, etc.), and music(for example, music, instrumental music, radio broadcasting, etc.).However, types of content are not limited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may provide thegenerated content to the user 110. For example, the terminal 1000 mayprovide the content by displaying the content in a display unit or byoutputting the content via a sound output unit of the terminal 1000.

Meanwhile, although it is illustrated in FIG. 1 that the terminal 1000is a mobile terminal, the terminal 1000 may be realized as varioustypes. For example, the mobile terminal may include cellular phones,smart phones, laptop computers, tablet PCs, electronic book terminals,digital broadcasting terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs),portable multimedia players (PMPs), navigations, MP3 players, digitalcameras, smartwatches, etc. However, the mobile terminal is not limitedthereto.

Hereinafter, various operations and applications that are executed bythe terminal 1000 will be described. Even if configurations of theterminal 1000 are not specified, the terminal 1000 should be construedto encompass all exemplary embodiments that might occur to one ofordinary skill in the art. Also, the present disclosure is not limitedto particular configurations or the specified physical/logicalstructures.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of providing content, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2 , in operation S210, the terminal 1000 may obtainthe first message 130 that is input in an input window of a userinterface. The user interface may be provided by a messaging applicationthat is used for a messaging service. The terminal 1000 may receive, inthe input window of the user interface, an input of a message that is tobe provided to a terminal of another user. Here, the terminal 1000 mayreceive the first message 130 as a type of at least one of text data,sound data, and image data.

In operation S220, the terminal 1000 may generate the content 150 basedon the first message 130, and the second message 140 stored in theterminal 1000. The second message stored in the terminal 1000 may be amessage that is stored as any type of data in a storage unit of theterminal 1000.

For example, information of a user’s schedule that is stored in aschedule management application of the terminal 1000 may be the secondmessage 140. According to another example, information stored in aconversation window provided by the messaging application that is usedfor the messaging service may be the second message 140. Also,information which is transmitted from a server (for example, a twitterserver) of another messaging service that is different from thecurrently provided messaging service and is stored in the terminal 1000may be the second message 140.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may obtain thesecond message 140 stored in the terminal 1000 and may obtaininformation included in the first message 130 and the second message140. The information included in the first message 130 and the secondmessage 140 may be obtained by analyzing content of the first message130 and the second message 140.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the analysis may be performed byextracting key elements included in the first message 130 and the secondmessages 140. The extraction of the key elements may be performedaccording to a pre-configured criterion. The pre-configured criterionmay vary depending on types of the message data. For example, in thecase of the text data, a pre-configured keyword may be extracted; in thecase of the sound data, a pre-configured sound element may be extracted;and in the case of the image data, image recognition may be performed,so that information included in the first message 130 and the secondmessages 140 may be obtained.

For example, when the first message 130 and the second message 140include such words as “shall we meet?”, “this Saturday,” “6PM,” and“Myeong-dong,” the terminal 1000 may analyze that the first message 130and the second message 140 include information to generate “a schedulein Myeong-dong at 6PM this Saturday” between the users exchangingmessages.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may generate thecontent 150 based on the information included in the first message 130and the second message 140. The terminal 1000 may generate the content150 based on user information of the terminal 1000 and informationincluded in the first message 130 and the second messages 140. Here, theuser information may refer to at least one of a user’s scheduleinformation, mail information, and information stored in a cloud. Also,the user information may be information that is stored in a storagemedium of the terminal 1000, a cloud, or a PIMS server. Here, a cloudmay refer to a server of a service provider. In detail, when a cloud isused, software and data are stored in a central computer connected to aninternet, and when the internet is accessed, the software or data storedin the central computer may be used whenever and wherever.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the content 150 may include atleast one selected from schedule information of the user the terminal1000, location information related to the information included in thefirst message 130 and the second messages 140, advertisement informationrelated to the information included in the first message 130 and thesecond messages 140, reservation information pre-stored by the user ofthe terminal 1000, file information related to the information includedin the first message 130 and the second messages 140, and information ofa third party invitation through the messaging service.

For example, when the first message 130 and the second messages 140include the information corresponding to “Myeong-dong at 6PM thisSaturday,” the terminal 1000 may compare the schedule information of theuser and the information of “Myeong-dong at 6PM this Saturday.” Based ona result of the comparison, the terminal 1000 may determine whether timeinformation of the information included in the first message 130 and thesecond message 140 conflict with time information of the scheduleinformation of the user. When it is determined that the pieces of timeinformation conflict with each other, the terminal 1000 may generatecontent informing that the time information of the information includedin the first message 130 and the second message 140 conflict with thetime information of the schedule information of the user. When it isdetermined that the pieces of time information do not conflict with eachother, the terminal 1000 may generate the content 150 including a listof famous restaurants in “Myeong-dong.”

According to an exemplary embodiment, the content 150 may be generatedfrom the user information of the terminal 1000 or based on userinformation of a first terminal that is different from the terminal1000. A user of the first terminal may refer to a user that transmits orreceives the second message 140. For example, when a group conversationis performed in an instant messaging service, a user of the firstterminal may be a user out of a plurality of users in a group. Also, theuser information of the first terminal may denote summary informationabout the conversation participants. For example, the user informationof the first terminal may include at least one selected fromconversation participants’ addresses, hobbies, preferences, andrelationships with the user of the terminal 1000. However, the userinformation of the first terminal is not limited thereto.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the user information of thefirst terminal includes information about the addresses, the terminal1000 may generate the content 150 recommending a place located insimilar distances from the addresses. Also, when the user information ofthe first terminal includes information about hobbies or preferences,the terminal 1000 may generate the content 150 recommending a product ora place that is preferred by at least one of the conversationparticipants. Alternatively, when the user information of the firstterminal includes information about the relationships with the user ofthe terminal 1000, the terminal 1000 may generate the content 150including information that is different according to the relationships.For example, the content 150 generated by the terminal 1000 may includesentences, each having a different tone of voice, according to whetherthe relationship of the user of the first terminal with the user of theterminal 1000 is a friend or a business partner. However, the userinformation of the first terminal may vary according to one or moreexemplary embodiments, and is not limited to what are described above.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the first message 130 and thesecond message 140 may be at least one selected from text data, sounddata, and image data. The terminal 1000 may obtain information includedin the first message 130 and the second message 140, according to acriterion that is pre-configured in correspondence to the first message130 and the second message 140. Here, the pre-configured criterion mayinclude extracting a pre-configured keyword in text data, extracting apre-configured sound element in sound data, and performing imagerecognition in image data so that the information included in the firstmessage 130 and the second message 140 are obtained.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the first message 130 or thesecond message 140 may include sound data. When the first message 130 orthe second message 140 includes sound data, the terminal 1000 mayextract a pre-configured sound element from the sound data. The terminal1000 may obtain the information included in the first message 130 andthe second message 140 based on the extracted sound element, and maygenerate the content 150 based on the information included in the firstmessage 130 and the second message 140.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may obtain atext from the sound data. For example, the terminal 1000 may obtain thetext by applying the speech to text (STT) on the sound data. Theterminal 1000 may generate the content 150 based on the obtained text.The information included in the first message 130 and the second message140 may include the text obtained from the sound data.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the first message 130 or thesecond message 140 may include image data. The terminal 1000 may performimage recognition with respect to the image data. The image recognitionrefers to the recognition of letters or shapes included in the imagedata. The terminal 1000 may generate the content 150 based on a resultof the image recognition. The information included in the first message130 or the second message 140 may include information obtained by theimage recognition.

The terminal 1000 may provide the generated content 150 in operationS230. The terminal 1000 may provide the content 150 by using variousmethods according to one or more exemplary embodiments. For example, theterminal 1000 may display the content 150 by using a display device,such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). In this case, the content 150may include at least one selected from text, a still image, and a video.However, the content 150 is not limited thereto. According to anotherexample, the terminal 1000 may provide the content 150 by using a soundor vibration.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a user interface through which a messageis displayed, according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a user may input the first message130 in an input window 320 via the user interface. As illustrated inFIG. 3 , the user may execute a messaging application 310 to start aconversation with another user. The user may input the first message 130in the input window 320 of the user interface by using a text writer orkeyboard input 330, in order to transmit the message to the other user.For example, the user may input the first message 130 of “6PM thisFriday” in the input window 320, in order to make an appointment with“Crystal Woo” “at 6PM this Friday.” The terminal 1000 may obtain thefirst message 130 that is input by the user.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a method of comparing a message and userinformation, according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may analyze theobtained first message 130 and the second message 140 that is stored inthe terminal 1000. Here, the second message 140 stored in the terminal1000 may be obtained from a user’s schedule information 410 asillustrated in FIG. 4 . The terminal 1000 may obtain the information of“6PM this Friday” from the first message 130. The terminal 1000 mayobtain the second message 140 including a company get-together scheduleat 6PM this Friday from the user’s schedule information 410. Theterminal 1000 may compare the first message 130 and the second message140 and, as a result of the comparison, may determine that the schedulesconflict with each other.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a user interface through which the content150 is provided, according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may generate thecontent 150 based on a result of analyzing the first message 130 and thesecond message 140. As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the terminal 1000 maygenerate the content 150 that “you have a company get-together dinner at6PM this Friday.” The terminal 1000 may provide the generated content150. The terminal 1000 may display the generated content 150 on a screenof the terminal 1000. Here, the content 150 may be displayed on adifferent layer, or application, than the user interface provided by amessaging application. If the content 150 is displayed on the differentlayer, only the user of the terminal 1000 may identify the content 150,and the other user may not identify the content 150.

According to an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , theterminal 1000 may display the content 150 that “you have a companyget-together dinner at 6PM this Friday” on the screen of the terminal1000 or may provide the content 150 in a sound. Also, the terminal 1000may display the content 150 on the screen of the terminal 1000 and mayoutput vibration or an alarm sound at the same time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of providing the content 150,according to an exemplary embodiment. FIGS. 7 and 8 are viewsillustrating a user interface through which the content 150 is provided,according to another exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the terminal 1000 may obtain the firstmessage 130 that is input in an input window of a user interface inoperation S610. The first message 130 may be obtained while a userinputs the message in the input window.

In operation S620, the terminal 1000 may generate the schedulemanagement content 150 by analyzing the first message 130 and the secondmessage 140. The second message 140 is a message stored in the terminal1000. For example, the message stored in the terminal 1000 may beregistration information that is stored in a user’s schedules, orconversation information that is stored while a user exchanges messageswith another user through a messaging application. Here, the schedulemanagement content 150 may be the content 150 related to at least oneselected from a user’s schedule, a user’s schedule change, a user’sschedule recommendation, and another user’s schedule. It is understoodthat the schedule management content 150 includes the content 150 formanaging a user’s schedules.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the second message 140 may be amessage displayed in the user interface provided by the messagingapplication. In addition to the information provided by the messagingapplication, the second message 140 may also be obtained frominformation stored in an internal storage device of the terminal 1000(for example, user’s schedule information stored in the terminal, etc.).Also, the second message 140 may be obtained from a message receivedfrom an external storage device of the terminal 1000 (for example, atwitter server, a cloud server, etc.)

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the terminal 1000 may obtain the messagestored in a conversation window that “shall we watch movie at 6PM thisFriday?” as the second message 140. The user may input a message throughthe user interface. The terminal 1000 may obtain the message “6PM thisFriday” that is input by the user as the first message 130. The terminal1000 may analyze the first message 130 and the second message 140 toobtain information included in the first message 130 and the secondmessage 140. The terminal 1000 may extract “this Friday,” “6PM,” and “amovie” as key elements from the first message 130 and the second message140. The terminal 1000 may obtain the information included in the firstmessage 130 and the second message 140, by using the extracted keyelements. That is, the terminal 1000 may compare information stored in auser’s schedules and the information included in the first message 130and the second message 140 and determine whether it is possible to watcha movie at 6PM this Friday. The terminal 1000 may generate the schedulemanagement content 150 based on a result of the comparison. If theuser’s schedule information 410 includes a scheduled event of “a companyget-together dinner from 6PM to 7PM this Friday,” the terminal 1000 maygenerate the content 150 informing of the conflicted schedules.

In operation S630, the terminal 1000 may provide the generated schedulemanagement content 150 to the user. The terminal 1000 may display theschedule management content 150 on a screen of the terminal 1000 orprovide the schedule management content 150 in a sound.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the terminal 1000 may display the content 150that “there is a company get-together dinner at 6PM this Friday” on thescreen of the terminal 1000. The content 150 might not be displayed on alayer, or application, of the user interface provided by the messagingapplication and may be displayed on a layer that is different from thelayer of the user interface layer. In this case, the content 150 is notshown to the other user and is shown only to the user of the terminal1000. Also, the terminal 1000 may provide a vibration or an alarm soundwhen the content 150 is provided to the screen of the terminal 1000.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the terminal 1000 may provide the content 150that “you have a company get-together dinner at 6PM this Friday” in asound.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating in detail a method of providing theschedule management content 150 of FIG. 6 . FIG. 9 is a flowchart of amethod of inputting a message by using the provided content 150. FIGS.10 through 12 are views illustrating a user interface through which amessage is input by using the provided content 150.

As illustrated in FIG. 9 , the terminal 1000 may receive an input 1010of selecting the content 150 in operation S910. As illustrated in FIG.10 , the content 150 may be displayed on at least one region of adisplay unit included in the terminal 1000. The terminal 1000 mayreceive the input 1010 of selecting the content 150. The terminal 1000includes a touch screen, and when the content 150 is displayed on aregion of the touch screen, the terminal 1000 may receive the input 1010of selecting the region on which the content 150 is displayed, via thetouch screen.

In operation S920, the terminal 1000 may input the content 150 in aninput region 1110, in response to the input 1010 that is received inoperation S910. As illustrated in FIG. 11 , the terminal 1000 mayconvert a message displayed in the input region 1110 as a text includedin the content 150. Since the content 150 is input in the input region1110, the content 150 may be easily written and transmitted.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 might not inputthe content 150 in the input region 1110. Instead, the terminal 1000 mayprovide the content 150 to the user interface provided by a messagingapplication, in response to the input 1010 that is received in operationS910, as illustrated in FIG. 12 .

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method of updating user information by usingprovided content, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIGS. 14 through17 are views for describing the method of updating user information byusing provided content.

As illustrated in FIG. 13 , the terminal 1000 may analyze the message140 and provide content, in operation S1310. Here, the analysis may beperformed by extracting key elements included in the message. Theextraction of key elements may be performed according to apre-configured criterion.

As illustrated in FIG. 14 , the terminal 1000 may provide the content150 with reference to user information. Here, the user information mayinclude at least one selected from user’s schedule information, mailinformation, and social network service information. When the message140 includes a keyword corresponding to “6PM this Friday,” and the userinformation includes a schedule conflicting with 6PM this Friday, theterminal 1000 may provide the content 150 asking whether to decide on“6PM this Saturday.” The terminal 1000 may provide the content 150indicating “yes” and “no.”

In operation S1320, the terminal 1000 may receive an input of selectingthe content 150. As illustrated in FIG. 15 , the terminal 1000 mayreceive the input 1010 of selecting “yes” or “no” with respect to aschedule at “6PM this Saturday.” In this case, if the terminal 1000 hasa touch screen, and the content 150 is displayed on a region of thetouch screen, the terminal 1000 may receive the input 1010 of selectingthe region on which the content 150 is displayed, via the touch screen.Also, when the terminal 1000 does not receive an input of selecting thecontent 150 indicating “yes” or “no” for a predetermined period of time,the content 150 asking whether to decide on “6PM this Saturday” and thecontent 150 indicating “yes” or “no” may be deleted from the terminal1000.

In operation S1330, the terminal 1000 may update the user informationbased on the selected content 150. Updating refers to reflecting in theuser information added, deleted, and changed content of the userinformation. As illustrated in FIG. 16 , the terminal 1000 may add aschedule of “watching a movie with Crystal Woo at 6PM this Saturday”1601 in the user’s schedule information 410.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may providecontent by referring to user information of the other user’s terminal.As illustrated in FIG. 17 , the terminal 1000 may obtain the firstmessage 130 of “6PM this Saturday.” Also, the terminal 1000 may obtainthe second message 140 that “there is a company get-together dinner at6PM this Friday.” The terminal 1000 may extract key elements of thefirst message 130 and the second message 140, and may generate thecontent 150 by using the extracted key elements and the user informationof the other user’s terminal. The terminal 1000 may extract “6PM thisSaturday” as the key element of the first message 130 and “6PM thisFriday” as the key element of the second message 140. The terminal 1000may refer to the user information of the other user’s terminal, and ifthere is a schedule conflict, the terminal 1000 may provide the content150 informing of the schedule conflict. That is, with reference to thefirst message 130, the second message 140, and the schedule of CrystalWoo, the terminal 1000 may provide the content 150 that “Crystal Woo hasa high-school alumni meeting at 6PM this Saturday.”

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a method of providing content, according toanother exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 18 , the terminal 1000 may obtain the firstmessage 130 that is input in an input window of a user interfaceprovided by a messaging application and the second message 140 that isstored in the terminal 1000, in operation S1810.

In operation S1820, the terminal 1000 may analyze the first message 130and the second message 140 and generate additional information content150. For example, the additional information content 150 may be thecontent 150 that displays in advance a predicted sentence in an inputwindow provided by a messaging application, recommends an appointmentplace or music included in a conversation, provides dictionaryfunctions, translation functions, advertisements, or includesinformation associated with blogs. In addition to the above examples,the additional information content 150 includes the content 150 whichmay be additionally provided to the user by analyzing conversationcontent. Also, the additional information content 150 may include atleast one selected from additional information related to user’sschedule information of the terminal, additional information related tolocation information included in the first message 130 and the secondmessage 140, additional information related to advertisement informationincluded in the first message 130 and the second message 140, additionalinformation related to reservation information stored in advance by theuser of the terminal, file information related to information includedin the first message 130 and the second message 140, and additionalinformation related to information with respect to a third partyinvitation through the messaging service.

In operation S1830, the terminal 1000 may provide the generatedadditional information content 150 to the user.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating in detail a method of providing thecontent 150, according to another exemplary embodiment. FIG. 20 is aview for describing a user interface through which the content 150 isprovided, according to another exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 19 , in operation S1910, the terminal 1000 mayanalyze the first message 130 and the second message 140. The firstmessage 130 is a message that is input in an input window of a userinterface provided by a messaging application. The second message 140 isa message that is stored in the terminal 1000. Referring to FIG. 20 ,the first message 130 is “7PM tonight” and the second messages 140 are“When shall we meet?” and “How about 7PM tonight?” Also, the terminal1000 may analyze that there is an intention to meet at 7PM tonight,through the first message 130 and the second message 140.

In operation S1920, the terminal 1000 may determine whether there arekey elements based on a result of analyzing the first message 130 andthe second message 140. Referring to FIG. 20 , the terminal 1000 mayextract the key elements of “7PM tonight” and “meet” from the firstmessage 130 and the second message 140.

In operation S1930, the terminal 1000 may determine a locationrecommendation based on location information of the terminal 1000 andlocation information of a terminal of the other user, based on GPS orother location technology. For example, the terminal 1000 may determinea middle position between the location of the terminal 1000 and thelocation of the terminal of the other user as the locationrecommendation. The location information of the terminal of the otheruser may be received from an external device or obtained from a memoryincluded in the terminal 1000. In detail, when it is identified that thelocation information of the terminal 1000 is “Gangnam” and the locationinformation of the terminal of the other user is “Ilsan,” the terminal1000 may determine “Yeouido” as the location recommendation.

In operation S1940, the terminal 1000 may generate the additionalinformation content 150 based on the location recommendation. Thecontent 150 may include at least one selected from text, a still image,a video, and map information. Referring to FIG. 20 , the terminal 1000may determine “the IFC mall” located in Yeouido as an appointment placeby using user information or a search engine and may generate thecontent 150 including a map and guide information with respect to theappointment place. Then, the terminal 1000 may provide the generatedcontent 150. As illustrated in FIG. 20 , the terminal 1000 may displaythe content 150 on a different layer than the user interface provided bythe messaging application.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a method of providing the content 150,according to another exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 21 , the terminal 1000 may analyze the firstmessage 130 and the second message 140 in operation S2110. The firstmessage 130 is a message input in an input window of a user interfaceprovided by a messaging application. The second message 140 is a messagestored in the terminal 1000.

In operation S2120, the terminal 1000 may determine whether there arekey elements based on a result of analyzing the first message 130 andthe second message 140.

In operation S2130, the terminal 1000 may determine a recommendationcategory based on the key elements. For example, the recommendationcategory may be in terms of a place, time, and additional information.

In operation S2140, the terminal 1000 may generate the additionalinformation content 150 based on the recommendation category. Forexample, when the recommendation category is a place, the terminal 1000may generate the content 150 related to an appointment place. When therecommendation category is an advertisement, the terminal 1000 maygenerate the content 150 related to an advertisement. The terminal 1000may provide the content 150 to the user by using various methods. Theterminal 1000 may display the content 150 in a display unit of theterminal 1000. The content 150 may include at least one selected fromtext, a still image, and a video. Also, the terminal 1000 may providethe content 150 in a sound.

FIGS. 22 through 25 are views illustrating a user interface throughwhich the content 150 related to a list of famous restaurants isprovided, according to another exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 22 , the terminal 1000 may obtain the secondmessage 140 stored in the terminal 1000. Here, the message stored in theterminal 1000 may include messages exchanged between users by using amessaging service. Referring to FIG. 22 , the second messages 140 are“When shall we meet?”, “How about 6PM this Saturday?”, and “Shall wemeet in Myeongdong?” The terminal 1000 may obtain the first message 130input in an input window of a user interface provided by a messagingapplication. Referring to FIG. 22 , the first message 130 is “Where inMyeongdong?”

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may analyze thefirst message 130 and the second message 140 to extract key elements.The terminal 1000 may extract “meet,” “6PM this Saturday,” and“Myeongdong” as the key elements from the first message 130 and thesecond message 140. The terminal 1000 may determine a list of famousrestaurants as a recommendation category, by considering the place andthe time. As illustrated in FIG. 23 , the terminal 1000 may provide thecontent 150 including the information of “Will I search for a list offamous restaurants?” on a screen.

The terminal 1000 may obtain the first message 130 by receiving textdata in a text input window, or by receiving sound data in a sound inputwindow as illustrated at 2310 in FIG. 23 . The terminal 1000 maygenerate the content 150 based on the obtained sound data. Also, theterminal 1000 may convert the received sound data into text data togenerate the content 150 based on the converted text data.

As illustrated in FIG. 24 , the terminal 1000 may receive an input ofselecting the content 150. The content 150 may be displayed on at leastone region of a display unit included in the terminal 1000. The terminal1000 may receive the input of selecting the content 150. For example,the terminal 1000 may include a touch screen. When the content 150 isdisplayed on a region of the touch screen, the terminal 1000 may receivethe input of selecting the region on which the content 150 is displayed,via the touch screen. As illustrated in FIG. 24 , the terminal 1000 mayreceive an input of selecting the content 150 of “Will I search for alist of famous restaurants in Myeongdong?” via the touch screen.

As illustrated in FIG. 25 , the terminal 1000 may provide on the screen“results of searching for the list of famous restaurants in Myeongdong,”the searching being performed by using at least one of a search engineinstalled in the terminal 1000, a search engine through a network, andinformation stored in the terminal 1000. For example, the terminal 1000may provide information of related search words 2510, power links 2520,and blogs 2530.

FIG. 26 is a view illustrating a user interface through which content150 related to advertisements is provided, according to anotherexemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 26 , the terminal 1000 may obtain the secondmessage 140 stored in the terminal 1000. The second messages 140 are“Would you like to go shopping with me?”, “Yes, let’s go together. Whatare you going to buy?” and “I’m going to shop for running shoes.” Theterminal 1000 may obtain the first message 130 input in an input windowof a user interface provided by a messaging application. The firstmessage 130 is “running shoes.”

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may analyze thefirst message 130 and the second message 140 to extract key elements.The terminal 1000 may extract “shopping” and “running shoes” as the keyelements from the first message 130 and the second message 140. Theterminal 1000 may consider the extracted key elements and determine anadvertisement as a recommendation category. As illustrated in FIG. 26 ,the terminal 1000 may provide the content 150 including the informationof “20% discounts this week on Nike running shoes” on a screen.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the terminal 1000 receives aninput of selecting the content 150, the terminal 1000 may provide othercontent 150 including specific advertisements related to “discounts onNike running shoes.” For example, other content 150 may includeinformation related to discount items, schedules, locations, andcoupons. Here, the content 150 including the specific advertisements maybe received from an external device or obtained from a memory includedin the terminal 1000.

FIGS. 27 through 29 are views illustrating a user interface throughwhich the content 150 related to dictionary functions is provided,according to another exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 27 , the terminal 1000 may obtain the secondmessage 140 stored in the terminal 1000. The second message 140 is“Today I heard a lecture on ubiquitous computing.” The terminal 1000 mayobtain the first message 130 input in an input window of a userinterface provided by a messaging application. The first message 130 is“ubiquitous.”

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may analyze thefirst message 130 and the second message 140 to extract key elements.The terminal 1000 may extract “ubiquitous,” “computing,” and “a lecture”as the key elements from the first message 130 and the second message140. The terminal 1000 may determine a dictionary function as arecommendation category by considering the extracted key elements. Forexample, when the key elements extracted from the first message 130 andthe second message 140 are not words that are pre-configured, or arenewly entered words, the terminal 1000 may determine a dictionaryfunction as the recommendation category. The terminal 1000 may providethe content 150 including the information of “Will I search a termrelated to ubiquitous computing?” on a screen.

As illustrated in FIG. 28 , the terminal 1000 may receive an input ofselecting the content 150. When the content 150 is displayed on a regionof a touch screen, the terminal 1000 may receive the input of selectingthe region on which the content 150 is displayed, via the touch screen.The terminal 1000 may receive the input 1010 of selecting the content150 including the information of “Will I search a term related toubiquitous computing?”

As illustrated in FIG. 29 , the terminal 1000 may provide a searchresult 160 related to “ubiquitous computing” in response to the input ofselecting the content 150. The terminal 1000 may display a descriptionrelated to the “ubiquitous computing” on the screen of the terminal1000. Also, the terminal 1000 may provide a term definition with respectto the “ubiquitous computing” in a sound and/or a text.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a method of providing the content 150,according to another exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 30 , in operation S3010, the terminal 1000 mayobtain a first message input in the input window. Next, in operationS3020, the terminal 1000 may analyze the first message 130 or the secondmessage 140 and generate business agent content 150 in operation. Here,the business agent refers to the function that the terminal 1000analyzes the first message 130 or the second message 140, and performs abusiness that has to be performed by a user, instead of the user, evenif there is no active performance of the user with respect to thebusiness. For example, according to the business agent, when the userhas to transmit a first file to a terminal of another user, the terminal1000 directly searches for the first file in the terminal 1000 andtransmits the first file to the terminal of the other user even if theuser does not directly search for the first file and transmit the firstfile to the terminal of the other user.

The business agent content 150 refers to the content 150 provided to theuser in order to perform the business agent. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the first message 130 is a message input in an input windowof a user interface provided by a messaging application. The secondmessage 140 is a message stored in the terminal 1000.

In operation S3030, the terminal 1000 may provide the generated businessagent content 150 to the user.

FIGS. 31 through 34 are views illustrating a user interface that isprovided in a process of performing the business agent via the terminal1000, according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may obtainmessages exchanged between users through a messaging application. Here,the messages may be at least one of the first message 130 input in aninput window provided by the messaging application and the secondmessages 140 stored in the terminal 1000 (for example, the messagestored in a conversation window provided by the messaging application).Here, types of the message data may correspond to at least one selectedfrom text data, sound data, and image data.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may analyze thefirst message 130 or the second message 140 to extract key elements. Theterminal 1000 may extract the key elements according to a criterion thatis pre-configured according to the types of the message data. Forexample, the pre-configured criterion may include extracting apre-configured keyword for text data, extracting a pre-configured soundelement for sound data, and performing image recognition for image data,so that information included in the first message 130 and the secondmessage 140 are obtained.

Referring to FIG. 31 , the terminal 1000 may obtain the second message140 stored in the user interface (for example, a conversation window)provided by the messaging application. Also, the terminal 1000 mayobtain the first message 130 input in the input window. The terminal1000 may analyze the obtained first message 130 and the second messages140 and extract “I cannot go to Sinchon,” “a file,” and “transmit toyou” as the key elements. The terminal 1000 may realize a process inwhich the file is transmitted to the terminal 1000 of the other userbased on the key elements, without receiving a user’s command input.

Referring to FIG. 32 , the terminal 1000 may transmit the message that“I have a file, I will send it to you later” and at the same time thecontent 150 indicating the completion of the file transmission to theterminal 1000 of the other user. That is, upon selecting a button fortransmitting the first message 130 input in the input window of theterminal 1000, the terminal 1000 may analyze the first message 130 andthe second message 140 and perform the business agent, according to theinformation included in the first message 130 and the second message140. A result of performing the business agent may be displayed on atleast one region of a display unit of the terminal 1000 or may be outputby a sound output unit included in the terminal 1000.

Referring to FIGS. 33 and 34 , when receiving a response with respect tothe provided content 150, the terminal 1000 may execute a command withrespect to the response. When receiving a command of file transmission,the terminal 1000 may execute the file transmission 3410 to the terminal1000 of the other user.

FIGS. 35 through 39 are views for describing a user interface that isprovided in a process of executing a business agent via the terminal1000, according to another exemplary embodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may analyze thefirst message 130 and the second message 140 and may invite another userto the present conversation window by using a messaging application orcreate a new conversation window to invite another user.

Referring to FIG. 35 , the terminal 1000 may obtain the second message140 stored in the terminal 1000. The second message 140 is “Shall we goon a picnic to a lake park this weekend?” and “Yes, let’s go togetherwith Yeonghee and Cheolhee if they have time.” Also, the terminal 1000may obtain the first message 130 input in an input window of theterminal 1000. The first message 130 is “Yes, let’s ask them if theyhave time.” The terminal 1000 may extract “a lake park,” “Yeonghee,” and“Cheolhee” as the key elements based on the first message 130 and thesecond message 140 and may provide the content 150-1 and 150-2 receivinga command input of conversation invitation so that users participatingin the present conversation may converse with “Yeonghee” and “Cheolhee.”The terminal 1000 may provide the content 150-1 and 150-2 receiving thecommand input of conversation invitation, on a region of a display unitincluded in the terminal 1000. For example, the terminal 1000 mayprovide the content 150-1 inviting another user to the presentconversation window and the content 150-2 inviting another user to a newconversation window, on a screen of the terminal 1000.

Referring to FIGS. 36 and 37 , when the terminal 1000 receives an inputof selecting the content 150-1 inviting another user to the presentconversation window, the terminal 1000 invites the other user to theconversation window in which existing users converse with one another.For example, when the terminal 1000 receives an input of “Will youinvite Yeonghee and Cheolhee to the present conversation window?” theterminal 1000 invites Yeonghee and Cheolhee to the present conversationwindow. The terminal 1000 invites Yeonghee and Cheolhee and may providecontent 3710 that “Yeonghee and Cheolhee are invited to the presentconversation window.”

Referring to FIGS. 36 and 38 , when the terminal 1000 receives an inputof selecting the content 150-2 inviting other users to a newconversation window, the terminal 1000 invites the users to a newconversation window instead of the present conversation window in whichexisting users converse with one another. For example, when the terminal1000 receives the input of “Will you make a new conversation window byadding Yeonghee and Cheolhee?” the terminal 1000 may establish a newconversation window by including user of terminal 1000, Crystal Woo,Yeonghee, and Cheolhee. The terminal 1000 may provide content 3810 that“A group chatting room including you, Crystal Woo, Yeonghee, andCheolhee has been made.”

FIG. 39 is a flowchart of a method of providing the content 150,according to another exemplary embodiment.

The terminal 1000 may provide the content 150 by using a messagingservice. A messaging service system for providing the messaging servicemay include the terminal 1000 and a server 2000.

As illustrated in FIG. 39 , the terminal 1000 may transmit the secondmessage 140 to the server 2000 or receive the second message 140 fromserver 2000, in operation S3910. In this case, the server 2000 may storethe second message 140 that is transmitted or received as a messagehistory.

In operation S3920, the terminal 1000 may receive the first message 130from user.

In operation S3930, the terminal 1000 may transmit the first message 130that is input to the server 2000. Here, the first message 130 has to bedistinguishable from the second message 140 that the server 2000 has totransmit to another terminal 1000. For example, the terminal 1000 mayalso transmit a flag for distinguishing the first message 130 from thesecond message 140 to the server 2000. According to an exemplaryembodiment, when the server 2000 does not store the second message 140,the terminal 1000 may transmit the second message 140 together with thefirst message 130.

In operation S3940, the server 2000 may generate the content 150 basedon the first message 130 and the second message 140. Here, the server2000 may obtain information included in the first message 130 and thesecond message 140 and compare the information included in the firstmessage 130 and the second message 140 with user information of theterminal 1000. The server 2000 may generate the content 150 based on aresult of the comparison.

In operation S3950, the server 2000 may transmit the generated content150 to the terminal 1000.

In operation S3960, the terminal 1000 that received the content 150 mayoutput the received content 150 in the terminal 1000.

FIGS. 40 and 41 are block diagrams of configurations of the terminal1000, according to an exemplary embodiment. An exemplary embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 40 and 41 is only exemplary, and the terminal 1000may be formed of more or less configurations than the terminal 1000illustrated in FIGS. 40 and 41 .

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may include amessage obtaining unit (i.e., message obtainer) 4010, an informationgeneration unit (i.e., information generator) 4020, and an informationproviding unit (i.e. information provider) 4030. However, not all of theillustrated configurations are essential. The terminal 1000 may includemore or less configurations than the illustrated terminal 1000.Hereinafter, the configurations will be described in detail.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a controlling unit (i.e.,controller) 1300 illustrated in FIG. 41 may correspond to the messageobtaining unit 4010 and the information generation unit 4020 illustratedin FIG. 40 . An output unit 1200 illustrated in FIG. 41 may correspondto the information providing unit 4030 illustrated in FIG. 40 .

According to an exemplary embodiment, the message obtaining unit 4010may obtain the first message 130 and the second message 140. The firstmessage 130 is a message input in an input window of a user interfaceprovided by a messaging application used for a messaging service. Thesecond message 140 is a message stored in the terminal 1000. The firstmessage 130 and the second message 140 may correspond to at least oneselected from text data, sound data, and image data.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the message obtaining unit 4010may obtain a message provided by a first terminal 1000 that is differentfrom the terminal 1000 through the messaging application, as the secondmessage 140.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the information generation unit4020 may analyze the first message 130 and the second message 140 andgenerate the content 150. The information generation unit 4020 mayobtain information included in the first message 130 and the secondmessage 140, and may generate the content 150 based on the informationincluded in the first message 130 and the second message 140. Forexample, the information generation unit 4020 may compare userinformation of the terminal 1000 and the information included in thefirst message 130 and the second message 140 to generate the content150.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the information generation unit4020 may obtain the information included in the first message 130 andthe second message 140 according to a criterion that is pre-configuredin correspondence to the first message 130 and the second message 140.Here, the pre-configured criterion may include extracting apre-configured keyword for text data, extracting a pre-configured soundelement for sound data, and performing image recognition for image dataso that the information included in the first message 130 and the secondmessage 140 may be obtained.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the information providing unit4030 may provide the generated content 150 through the messagingapplication. The information providing unit 4030 may display the content150 on a different layer than a layer of the user interface provided bythe messaging application.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the terminal 1000 may include acentral processing unit (CPU) to control overall operations of themessage obtaining unit 4010, the information generation unit 4020, andthe information providing unit 4030. The CPU may be formed of an arrayof a plurality of logic gates or may be formed of a combination of amicroprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in themicroprocessor is stored. Also, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that the CPU may be formed using different forms ofhardware.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the input unit 1100 (i.e.,inputter) may receive an input of the first message 130. Also, theoutput unit (i.e., outputter) 1200 may output the first message 130 thatis input, the second message 140, the content 150, and an input region.Although FIG. 41 illustrates the input unit 1100 and the output unit1200 as separate components, the input unit 1100 and the output unit1200 may be formed as one hardware element, such as a touch screen inwhich a display unit and a touch pad are formed in layer.

The input unit 1100 is a device used to input data to control theterminal 1000. For example, the input unit 1100 may be a key pad, a domeswitch, a touch pad (using a touch-type capacitance method, apressure-type resistive method, an infrared sensing method, a surfaceultrasonic conductive method, an integral tension measuring method, apiezo effect method, etc.), a jog wheel, or a jog switch. However, theinput unit 1100 is not limited thereto. Also, the input unit 1100 mayinclude an A/V input unit (i.e. A/V inputter) 1600 of FIG. 41 .

The output unit 1200 may output an audio signal, a video signal, or avibration signal. The output unit 1200 may include a display unit 1210,a sound output unit (i.e., sound outputter) 1220, and a vibration motor1230. Here, the output unit 1200 illustrated in FIG. 41 may correspondto the information providing unit 4030 illustrated in FIG. 40 .

The display unit 1210 may include at least one selected from a liquidcrystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, anorganic light-emitting diode, a flexible display, a 3D display, and anelectrophoretic display. Also, the terminal 1000 may include two or moredisplay units 1210, according to types of the terminal 1000. Here, twoor more display units 1210 may be arranged to face each other by using ahinge. The display unit 1210 may display the user interface illustratedin FIG. 41 , however, it is not limited thereto.

The sound output unit 1220 may output audio data received from acommunication unit (i.e. communicator) 1500 or stored in a memory 1700.Also, the sound output unit 1220 outputs sound signals (for example, acall signal reception sound, a message reception sound, and an alarmsound) related to functions performed in the terminal 1000. The soundoutput unit 1220 may include a speaker or a buzzer.

The vibration motor 1230 may output a vibration signal. For example, thevibration motor 1230 may output the vibration signal corresponding to anoutput of audio data or video data (for example, the call signalreception signal, the message reception signal, etc.). Also, thevibration motor 1230 may output the vibration signal when a touch isinput in a touch screen.

The controlling unit 1300 may control overall operations of the terminal1000. For example, the controlling unit 1300 may execute a programstored in the memory 1700, in order to control the configurationsincluded in the terminal 1000 to operate. Here, the controlling unit1300 illustrated in FIG. 41 may correspond to the message obtaining unit4010 and the information generating unit 4020 illustrated in FIG. 40 .

In detail, when the first message 130 is input via the input unit 1100,the controlling unit 1300 may obtain information included in the secondmessage 140 and personal information of the user of the terminal 1000,via the information obtaining unit 1310. The controlling unit 1300 maygenerate the content 150 based on the information included in the firstmessage 130 and the second message 140 and the personal information.According to an exemplary embodiment, the information included in thefirst message 130 and the second message 140 may be obtained by using anatural language interpretation with respect to each message. Forexample, when the first message 130 and the second message 140 includesuch words as “meet?”, “Friday,” and “6PM,” it may be interpreted suchthat the first message 130 and the second message 140 includeinformation related to generating a schedule at 6PM on Friday betweenmessage exchangers. Here, the personal information refers to informationincluded in user’s schedules, memos, contact information, locationinformation, mails, social network services (SNS), and calendars. Thepersonal information may be information stored in the memory 1700 in theterminal 1000 or may be information received from a cloud server or aPIMS server via the information obtaining unit 1310.

Also, according to an exemplary embodiment, the controlling unit 1300may generate the content 150 based on profile information of aconversation participant related to the second message 140. Here, theconversation participant related to the second message 140 refers to auser of a messaging service that transmits or receives the secondmessage 140. For example, when a group conversation in an instantmessaging service is used, the conversation participant related to thesecond message 140 may be users included in the group. Also, the profileinformation may refer to summary information related to the conversationparticipants. For example, the profile information may include at leastone selected from the conversation participants’ addresses, hobbies,preferences, and relationships with the user of the terminal 1000.However, the profile information is not limited thereto.

Also, according to an exemplary embodiment, the second message 140 mayinclude sound data or image data. When the second message 140 includessound data or image data, the controlling unit 130 may obtaininformation included in the second message 140 by using soundrecognition or image recognition with respect to the sound data or theimage data.

Also, the controlling unit 130 may obtain the content 150 from anexternal device, such as a server providing a messaging service. Thecontrolling unit 130 may transmit the first message 130 to the externaldevice through the communication unit 1500 and receive from the externaldevice the content 150 generated based on the first message 130, thesecond message 140, and the personal information. Here, when the secondmessage 140 or the personal information is not stored in the externaldevice, the controlling unit 1300 may transmit the second message 140 orthe personal information together with the first message 130 to theexternal device, via the communication unit 1500.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the content 150 generated by thecontrolling unit 1300 may include at least one selected from timeinformation, location information, and advertisement information. Forexample, when the content 150 is related to schedule information, thecontent 150 may include time information indicating time with respect toschedules. According to another example, when the content 150 is relatedto an appointment place, the content 150 may include locationinformation, such as an address or a map indicating the appointmentplace. According to another example, the content 150 may includeadvertisement information related to the first message 130, the secondmessage 140, and the personal information.

The output unit 1200 may output the content 150 generated by thecontrolling unit 1300, via the display unit 1210. According to anexemplary embodiment, the output unit 1200 may output the content 150 asthe type as the second message 140, as illustrated in FIG. 5 . Also,according to another exemplary embodiment, the output unit 1200 maydisplay the content 150 in the input region 110 or by using a pop-upwindow. Also, the output unit 1200 may display the content 150 in asound by using the sound output unit 1220, or may output the content 150by using vibration generated in the vibration motor 1230.

The information generation unit 4020 may obtain the second message 140or the personal information. The information generation unit 4020 may beformed as various types according to one or more exemplary embodiments.For example, when the second message 140 or the personal information isstored in the memory 1700, the information generation unit 4020 mayinclude the memory 1700. Alternatively, when the second message 140 orthe personal information is stored in an external device (not shown),such as a cloud server or a PIMS server, the information generation unit4020 may include the communication unit 1500 for performingcommunication with the external device. Alternatively, the informationgeneration unit 4020 may obtain the personal information frominformation that is input via the input unit 1100 or the A/V input unit1600. Here, the personal information refers to information included inuser’s schedules, memos, contact information, location information,mails, SNSs, and calendars. The personal information may be informationstored in a storage medium in the terminal 1000, or a cloud server or aPIMS server.

A sensing unit 1400 may sense a state of the terminal 1000 or a state ofa surrounding environment of the terminal 1000 and transmit the sensedinformation to the controlling unit 1300. The sensing unit 1400 mayinclude at least one selected from a magnetic sensor 1410, anacceleration sensor 1420, a temperature/humidity sensor 1430, aninfrared sensor 1440, a gyroscope sensor 1450, a position sensor (forexample, a GPS) 1460, an atmospheric sensor 1470, a proximity sensor1480, and an illuminance sensor (RGB sensor) 1490. However, the sensingunit 1400 is not limited thereto. The function of each sensor may beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of its name, andthus detailed descriptions will be omitted.

The communication unit 1500 may include one or more configurations forcommunication between the terminal 1000 and an external device. Forexample, the communication unit 1500 may include a short-range wirelesscommunication unit (i.e., short-range wireless communicator) 1510, amobile communication unit (i.e., mobile communicator) 1520, and abroadcasting receiving unit (i.e., broadcast receiver) 1530.

The short-range wireless communication unit 1510 may include a bluetoothcommunication unit, a bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication unit, anear-field communication unit, a WLAN communication unit, a zigbeecommunication unit, an infrared data association (IrDA) communicationunit, a Wi-Fi direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra wideband (UWB)communication unit, and an Ant+ communication unit. However, theshort-range wireless communication unit 151 is not limited thereto.

The mobile communication unit 1520 exchanges wireless signals with atleast one selected from a base station in a mobile communicationnetwork, an external terminal 1000, and a server. Here, the wirelesssignals may include sound call signals, internet protocol video callsignals, or various types of data according to exchanging oftext/multimedia messages.

The broadcasting reception unit 1530 receives broadcasting signals fromthe outside via broadcasting channels and/or information related tobroadcasting. The broadcasting channels may include satellite channelsand ground wave channels. According to one or more exemplaryembodiments, the terminal 1000 may not include the broadcastingreception unit 1530.

The audio/video (A/V) input unit 1600 inputs audio signals or videosignals, and may include a camera 1610 and a microphone 1620. The camera1610 may obtain an image frame, such as a still image or a video, via animage sensor, in an internet protocol video mode or a photographingmode. The image captured via the image sensor may be processed via thecontrolling unit 1300 or an additional image processing unit (notshown).

The image frame processed in the camera 1610 may be stored in the memory1700 or may be transmitted to the outside via the communication unit1500. Two or more of the cameras 1610 may be included according to thetypes of the terminal 1000.

The microphone 1620 receives an input of an external sound signal andprocesses the external sound signal as electrical sound data. Forexample, the microphone 1620 may receive sound signals from an externaldevice, a speaker, or a user. The microphone 1620 may use various noiseelimination algorithms for removing noises generated in the process inwhich external sound signals are input.

The memory 1700 may store programs for processing and controlling thecontrolling unit 1300, and may store data that is input in the terminal1000 or output from the terminal 1000.

The memory 1700 may include a storage medium of at least one selectedfrom a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card microtype, a card type memory (for example, SD or XD memory, etc.), randomaccess memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, amagnetic disk, and an optical disk.

Programs stored in the memory 1700 may be divided into a plurality ofmodules according to their functions. For example, the programs may bedivided into a user interface (UI) module 1710, a touch screen module1720, and a notifying module 1730.

The UI module 1710 may provide a specialized UI connected with theterminal 1000, for example, a graphic user interface (GUI), according toapplications. The touch screen module 1720 may sense a touch gesture ofa user on a touch screen, and may transmit information about the touchgesture to the controlling unit 1300. The touch screen module 1720 mayrecognize and analyze a touch code. The touch screen module 1720 may beformed as separate hardware including a controlling unit.

Various sensors may be included in the touch screen or around the touchscreen to sense a touch or a proximity touch of the touch screen. Anexample of the sensor for sensing the touch of the touch screen is anantenna sensor. The antenna sensor refers to a sensor that senses acontact of a specific object, by a degree in which human beings sense orby a higher degree than the degree in which human beings sense. Theantenna sensor may sense various information including a roughness of acontact surface, a rigidity of a contact object, and a temperature of acontact point.

Also, another example of the sensor for sensing the touch of the touchscreen is the proximity sensor.

The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that senses an object thatapproaches a predetermined sensing surface or senses whether there is anobject existing near the sensing surface by using an electromagneticforce or infrared rays, without a mechanical contact. Examples of theproximity sensor may include a transmittance photoelectricity sensor, adirect reflective photoelectricity sensor, a mirror-reflectivephotoelectricity sensor, a radio frequency oscillation proximity sensor,a capacitance proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, an infraredproximity sensor, etc. The touch gesture of the user may includetapping, touch & hold, double tapping, dragging, panning, flicking, dragand drop, and swiping.

The notifying module 1730 may generate signals for informing of an eventoccurrence of the terminal 1000. Examples of the event occurring in theterminal 1000 may include reception of call signals, reception ofmessages, occurrence of messages, inputting of key signals, andnotifying of schedules. The notifying module 1730 may output a notifyingsignal as a video signal via the display unit 1210, as an audio signalvia the sound output unit 1220, or as a vibration signal via thevibration motor 1230.

The above described device may be formed of a hardware component, asoftware component, and/or a combination of the hardware component andthe software component. For example, the device and the componentsaccording to the one or more above exemplary embodiments may be embodiedby using one or more general-purpose computers or special-purposecomputers, such as a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit(ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmablearray (FPA), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or anyother devices which may execute and respond to instructions.

The processing device may perform the operating system (OS) and one ormore software applications performed in the OS. Also, the processingdevice may access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data, inresponse to execution of software.

For convenience of understanding, descriptions may have been focused ona case in which one processing device is used. However, one of ordinaryskill in the art would have understood that the processing device mayinclude a plurality of processing elements and/or a processing elementin a multiple number. For example, the processing device may include aplurality of processors, or one processor and one controller. Also,other processing configurations, such as a parallel processor, are alsopossible.

Software may include a computer program, a code, an instruction, or acombination thereof, and may configure the processing device to operateas desired or may individually or collectively instruct the processingdevice.

Software and/or data may be permanently or temporarily embodied as atype of a device, a component, physical equipment, virtual equipment, acomputer recording medium or device, or transferred signal waves. Thesoftware may be stored or executed in a distributed manner in a computersystem connected in a network. The software and/or data may be recordedin one or more computer-readable recording media.

The methods of the present disclosure may be implemented as computerinstructions which may be executed by various computer means, andrecorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readablerecording medium may include program commands, data files, datastructures, or a combination thereof. The program commands recorded onthe computer-readable recording medium may be specially designed andconstructed for the inventive concepts or may be known to and usable byone of ordinary skill in a field of computer software.

Examples of the computer-readable medium include storage media such asmagnetic media (e.g., hard discs, floppy discs, or magnetic tapes),optical media (e.g., compact disc-read only memories (CD-ROMs), ordigital versatile discs (DVDs)), magnetooptical media (e.g., flopticaldiscs), and hardware devices that are specially configured to store andcarry out program commands (e.g., ROMs, RAMs, or flash memories).

Examples of the program commands include a high-level language code thatmay be executed by a computer using an interpreter as well as a machinelanguage code made by a complier.

The above hardware devices may be configured to operate as one or moresoftware modules to perform the operations of one or more exemplaryembodiments, and vice versa.

As the disclosure allows for various changes and numerous embodiments,exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described indetail in the disclosure. However, this is not intended to limit thedisclosure to particular modes of practice, and it is to be appreciatedthat all changes, equivalents, and substitutes that do not depart fromthe spirit and technical scope of the inventive concepts are encompassedin the disclosure.

It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described hereinshould be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplaryembodiment should typically be considered as available for other similarfeatures or aspects in other exemplary embodiments.

While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described withreference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinaryskill in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing content in a terminal, the method comprising: obtaining a first message that is input through a user interface of the terminal, wherein the user interface is provided by a messaging application that executes a messaging service in the terminal; generating content based on the first message, and a second message stored in the terminal; and providing the generated content via the terminal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the content comprises: obtaining the second message stored in the terminal; obtaining information from the first message and the second message; and generating the content based on the information obtained from the first message and the second message.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the obtaining the second message stored in the terminal comprises obtaining the second message from a second terminal that is different from the terminal, via the messaging application.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the generating the content based on the information obtained from the first message and the second message comprises generating the content based on the information obtained from the first message and the second message, and user information of the terminal.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user information comprises at least one of schedule information of a user of the terminal, mail information, and information stored in a cloud.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the content comprises at least one of additional information related to schedule information of a user of the terminal, additional information related to location information included in the first message and the second message, additional information related to advertisement information included in the first message and the second message, additional information related to reservation information pre-stored by the user of the terminal, file information related to information included in the first message and the second message, and additional information related to information of a third party invitation through the messaging service.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein the first message and the second message correspond to at least one of text data, sound data, and image data, and the obtaining the information from the first message and the second message comprises obtaining the information from the first message and the second message, according to a criterion corresponding to a type of data of the first message and the second message.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the criterion comprises extracting a keyword if the type of data is text data, extracting a sound element if the type of data is sound data, and performing image recognition if the type of data is image data.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the generated content comprises displaying the content on a layer that is different than a layer of the user interface provided by the messaging application.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the generated content comprises outputting the content as a sound when the first message is obtained as sound data.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the generated content comprises at least one of transmitting a file related to the content from the terminal to a second terminal that is different from the terminal, and receiving, via the terminal, the file related to the content from the second terminal.
 12. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a third message from a second terminal that is different from the terminal, via the messaging application, based on the information comprised in the first message and the second message.
 13. A terminal for providing content, the terminal comprising: a controller configured to obtain a first message input through a user interface provided by a messaging application that executes a messaging service in the terminal, obtain a second message stored in the terminal, and generate content based on the first message and the second message; and an outputter configured to provide the generated content.
 14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to obtain, via the messaging application, the second message provided by a second terminal that is different from the terminal.
 15. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to obtain information from the first message and the second message, and generate the content based on the information from the first message and the second message.
 16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the content based on at least one of the information obtained from the first message and the second message, and user information of the terminal.
 17. A method comprising: receiving a first message input to a user interface of a terminal; comparing the first message to a second message that is stored on the terminal; extracting information from the first message and the second message based on the comparing; outputting, through the user interface, information corresponding to the extracted information.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the extracting the information comprises: selecting keywords from the first message input and the second message; searching a database to determine a common theme among the key words.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the outputting comprises: outputting a third message through the user interface based on the determined common theme.
 20. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored thereon a program that is executed by computer to perform a method of providing content through a terminal, the method comprising: obtaining a first message input through a user interface of the terminal, wherein the user interface is provided by a messaging application that executes a messaging service in the terminal; generating content based on the first message, and a second message stored in the terminal; and providing the generated content via the terminal. 